Support for mattresses



.hflyl4,l925 I L546J45 O. G. OTEWALT.

SUPPORT FOR MATTRESSBS Filed p 29, 192-3 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 14, 925.1,546,145

0. G. OTEWALT SUPPORT FOR MATTRESSES File pt 29, 19,23 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented July 14, 1925.

ORRIS q. OTEWALT, or SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

SUPPORT FOR MATTRESSES.

Application filed September 29, 1923. Serial No. 665,636.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Onnrsv G. OTEWALT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for Mattresses,of which the following is .a specification. n

This invention relates to improvements in mattresses particularlydesigned for automobile bodies.

The object of the invention is to provide a mattress which may bereadily and quickly installed in the body of an automobile, so arrangedthat it can be rolled into compact form for storage. A further object ofthe invention is to provide improved, means for supporting a mattress inthe body including novel means for applying a tension to the stripscomposing the mattress.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mattress embodying the improvements shownsupported from the body of an automobile, only so much of the body beingshown as is necessary to illustrate the manner of installing themattress. 1

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the tension applying devices.

Fig. 3'is an end view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents a series of longitudinal stripsof fabric webbing, or other suitable material, connected and spacedapart by a series of transverse strips 2 of the same material. ends ofthe longitudinal strips are connected to a cross rod 3 preferably byforming the strips of two plies sewed together excepting the extremerear ends, which are left unsewed to form loops which embrace the rod 3.

The front ends of the longitudinal strips 1 are attached to anothercross-rod 4 preferably by connecting all of the stripsto a pocket 5 offabric through which the rod extends. The rod 3 is supported from anysuitable point of the body such as the posts 6 at the rear end of thebody and to this end each of the posts is provided with a hook 7 toreceive an eye 8 of a triangularshaped connecting member 9, the forwardThe rear 7 end of which is provided with a pair of 'eyes 10 to receivethe ends of coil springs 11,

the other ends of the springs being formed with eyes which encircletherod 3.

Two of the cross-strips of webbing, such as the ones indicated at 2, areconnected with the sides of the vehicle body, such as the postsindicated at 12, and to this end each of these posts isformed with ahook 7 similar to the ones attached to the posts6, and to each ofwhichishooked one end of a coil spring 13, the other end of which ishooked to a ring 14 which in turn is embraced by the looped end of thewebbing 2. There is indicated at 15 a winding shaft for placing tensionupon the longitudinal 7 strips composing the mattress. This shaft isprovided with a series of hooks 16 (Fig. '5) the shanks 17 of which arein the nature of pins driven into openings in the shaft, and to each ofthese hooks is connected an extension .1 projecting through certain ofthe longitudinal strips, preferably the two side strips and threeequally spaced intermediate strips, these extensions being formed witheyes 18 to receive the hooks. One end of the shaft is provided with agrooved portion 19 to receive an eye formed on one end of a coil spring20, the other end of the spring being connected with a hook 7 secured toa forward post 21, such as the windshield support. The other end of theshaft is reduced as indicated at 15 and also is provided with a groove22 to re ceive the eye 23 formed on one end of a coil spring 24 theotherend of the spring being formed with an eye 25 to receive the hook 7formed on the opposite post or windshield standard 21.

Formed on or rigidly connected with the roll 15 is a ratchet wheel 26.Loosely mounted upon the roll 15 adjacent the outer side of the ratchetwheel is a pawl-carrying arm 27 held in position by a cotter pin 27 andhaving pivotally connected therewith, as at 28, a pawl 29, the nose ofwhich'is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by a coil spring 30one end of which is inserted over a finger 31 on the tail 29 of thepawl, the other of which is inserted over a finger 32 projecting fromthe arm 27. The rear end of the arm 27 is provided with a loop or sleeve33 which encircles the spring 24 and is for the purpose of preventingthe arm 27 from rotating.

The operation is as follows: In installing the device the members 9 areapplied to the rear hooks 7 a-ndthe springs 13 to the side hooks 7. Itwill be observed that thes-prings 18 project at a slight angle withtheir enter ends forward of the inner ends so thatthese springs wouldserve to support the :greater portion of the mattress in the event ofbreal age of the forward supporting devices. The springs 20 and 24 arethen secured .to the forward hool'z's "7.

Tensioni's'fthen applied to the longitudimishaps of the mattressbyiotati'ng the shaft byany-suitable means such as by inserting thesquared pend-of a "crank in the 15 Sqe'are'aepenin .15 in the extension15.

T'he pawlcooperates with the ratchet wheel i f h d the i t "againstretrograde move- Astensionfis applied to the springs the shaft must"approach the rear rod 3 andduring this movement of the shaft 15 thesleeve sli'c'les zupon the springQ't, but maintains its engagementtherewith so as to the pawl carrying arm from turning. Torem'ove themattress the pawl 25 2 9'i's disengaged from the "ratchet wheel bypressing upon :t'he t a'il thereof and the shaft thus allowed to rotateback to its original positioniintil the tension upon :the verioussprings is relieved, after which the springs may berea'dily "detachedfrom the various 'heoks ,7 and the mattress rolled up for storage.

fillielaooiks 7 are so positioned that the mattress when installed willextend just 'above the badks oftheseats. The particu- 59 shaft to inovebodily when turned to apply tension tov said mattress member.

2. In a structure of the character described, a inattress member, aseries of springs connected to one end and to the sides of said memberfor supporting the same ,fifQin [the vehicle body, .a winding shaftconnected 'to the other end of said ln ember, resilient ,mean sforsupporting said jsh aftj'said shaft being movable in the direct on of(said member when tension is .appliedipawl and ratchet membersas'soci'ated :with said shaft andimqvable ,therewit'lnloneof saidmembers be ng connected with said'shaft to rotate therewith and'theother member loosely mounted on said shaft, and means for holding thelast member from turning.

in a bed structure for motor vehicles, a mattress member,springs'connected with the two &sides and one end for supporting saidmember, a winding shaft connected with the other end'o-f said member,springs for suspending said shaft from the vehicle body to permit saidshaft to yield away from -tl1e point of support when applying tension tosaid mattress 'meniberna'ratc het wheel connected with said shaft, an arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawlf'on said arm connected with said,ratchet wheel, and means for "holding said arm fromturniac- 4-. In v astructure of the character described, a "mattress member,springsconnected with the two sides and oneend for supporting saidmember, a winding shaft connected with the other end of said member,springs for supporting said shaft, a ratchet wlieel'connected with saidshaft," an arm loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl on said armconnected with said ratchet whee-hand a sleeve on said armsurroundingthe acent supporting spring for holdmg "said arm fromturning;

5. In a structure of the character described, a mattress consisting oflongitudinal strips and cross-strips, a rod'connecting the longitudinalstrips at done end of the 'niattress, springs for supporting said rod,additional springs connected with the side of the mattress structure forsupporting thesame, a winding shaft at the other end of said mattress,certain of the longitudinal strips being extended :and eon- .nected withsaid shaft, springs for supporting said shaft, and a pawl and ratchetdevice for holding said shaft against rotation in one direction. i

I 6. In a structure of the character {described, a mattress consistingof longitudinal strips and cross strips, a rod connecting thelongitudinal strips at one end fo'f rod, additional springs connectedwith the side of the mattress structure for supporting'the same,awinding shaft at the other end of said mattress, certain of thelongitudii'ial stripsbeing extended and connected withsa1dshaft,'spr1ngs for supporting said shaft, and a pawl and ratchetdevice for holding said shaft [against rotation in one direction, theratchet 'being ,conne cted with the shaft andthe pawl looselyimountedonthe I shaft, together mg he pawl from turnlng.

with means for Ihold- In a bed structure for motor bodies, a series ofsprings for supporting the 'rear end and two sides of said'inenibe'rfromis't'ationary points of supporh' hodily movable tensioni'ng devicesconnected with the mattress springs for supporting said 7 the forwardend of said member, together with springs connected with stationaryparts for supporting said devices, all of the side supporting springsbeing dispwed at an angle in the same direction with their points or"connection to the stationary supports arranged in advance of theirpoints of connection with said mattress whereby said side springs willapply tension to said mattress member in a sidewise direction and act tosupport the major part of the same in the event of breakage of saidtensioning devices.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofSeptember, 1923.

ORRIS G. OTEWALT.

